The LifeEvac program started on October 13th, 2001 with a single helicopter. Now, 20 years later, the program has expanded to three aircraft located at Hanover Airport, Middle Peninsula Regional Airport and currently Dinwiddie Airport but soon to be Bon Secours Southside Medical Center. The medical team on each helicopter consists of a VCU Health Critical Care Flight Nurse and Critical Care Flight Paramedic, and a handful of team members have been with the program since the beginning. LifeEvac currently transports approximately 1,500-2,000 patients per year as both interfacility transfers and emergency scene responses throughout multiple regions within Virginia. Additionally, a dedicated communications center, LIFECOMM, located at the VCU Health Parham building, began managing all call taking, dispatching and flight following of our aircraft this year. Our team takes part in and collaborates on multiple training opportunities with hospitals and public safety agencies by providing continuing education, landing zone and safety training, communications and much more. LifeEvac continues to take part in multiple community events to support our public safety agencies, hospitals and the communities they serve, which has been ongoing since day one of the program.
